Twisted

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. You have all been amazingly supportive throughout this story. I found myself debating between whether I wanted this to be a more humorous or darker chapter. Anyway, I hope that you enjoy it.

Chapter Notation: As this is an AU, Danzo doesn't have all the Sharingans he did in canon. So he doesn't have nearly as many tricks up his sleeve. So please take that into consideration as you read this battle chapter. I also tried to make Naruto more dark in this chapter than he has been recently. Happy reading.

Special Announcement: If you're interested, feel check out my profile for information about upcoming stories. I'm planning on releasing a bunch of them relatively soon. Happy reading.

Chapter 10

Itachi had always known that things weren't right between his Clan and the rest of the Leaf. He had just foolishly hoped that things would never get this bad.

"I see." He looks at Kabuto. "So Danzo is plotting our Clan's demise and Naruto is plotting Danzo's demise with the help of Orochimaru."

Quite honestly, the Uchiha didn't know which part of that sentence disturbed him most. He just knew that Danzo Shimura was a dead man.

The medic nods at him. "Yes, that would seem to be an accurate summary of the situation." True enough and it would seem that Kabuto needed a Fireball below the belt.

"If you wish to retain your ability to sire children, you will tell me where Orochimaru went." Itachi makes a clone. "I will deal with this matter personally."

He was going to have to send a clone on the mission. Itachi didn't want his family to realize something was amiss, but he couldn't not act on this information.

Kabuto sighs and nods. "Alright." Whatever mental calculations the man was performing in his head, Itachi didn't want to know. "I know that they're planning to lure Danzo off to the Forest of Death by sending him a scroll."

Hmm. An interesting plan. The forest was massive. There was a chance that whatever battle Naruto and Orochimaru were planning to wage there, no one would hear it.

"I presume that the scroll is addressed from me." Itachi twitches. "Seeing as Danzo has always had an unhealthy interest in me." Perhaps only moderately less unhealthy than Orochimaru's.

The medic nods again. He was disturbingly calm for someone who had just had their manhood threatened and for someone who had just been tortured inside a Genjutsu. Of course, that's probably just one of many reasons why he was Orochimaru's favorite lapdog.

"That's true enough." You should get going, if you don't want to miss the show. "I'm sure that you'll find Charger fascinating." Kabuto actually has the audacity to smirk. "Your Clan has always had a fondness for cats, if I'm not mistaken." That was true. Luckily, Daisuke had already run off sometime during his interrogation of Kabuto. The feline might very well have already found Naruto for all Itachi knew.

So that was their plan. "You're coming with me." It was possible that Naruto and Orochimaru might need medical attention after dealing with Danzo.

The man was elderly, but he was still a formidable ninja. Not that Itachi particularly cared what happened to Orochimaru, but he wasn't about to allow Sasuke's boyfriend to get himself killed.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea." Kabuto frowns.

Itachi flashes his Sharingan at him. "That wasn't a request." He didn't make idle threats. "Now take me to the precise location of the upcoming battle because I know that Orochimaru has chosen a specific one."

The Sannin was many things, but stupid wasn't one of them. It was likely that Orochimaru had been planning this little showdown for quite sometime.

"Very well." Kabuto sighs as he wiggles away from Itachi. "Follow me." With that being said, the silver haired medic flits off and Itachi follows him.

So it was all finally coming to a head. Itachi had always known this day would come eventually, but he never thought it would come this soon. Today would likely be the day that the fate of his Clan and the Leaf Village at large would be determined.

Danzo was in his office when the messenger hawk flies towards his window. Hmm. That was strange. He wasn't expecting any messages.

"Thank you." He takes the scroll from the hawk's foot and quickly reads it.

Dear Danzo,

I request to speak with you immediately. It is a matter of great importance. Please meet me in the Forest of Death as soon as possible.

Itachi Uchiha

He was a clever one. It was possible that Itachi had somehow figured out what he was planning. A troubling thought, but one that he could handle.

"I'll bring ROOT with me." Danzo nods thoughtfully.

Not Sai though. That boy had been potentially compromised. At the moment, Sai might be a bigger liability than asset. Danzo still hadn't decided.

A few minutes later, Sasuke blinks as he notices Itachi racing towards their family with the extra supplies in hand. That wasn't like him.

"You alright?" He quirks an eyebrow. "Did Kakashi's bad habit of being late rub off on you?"

Itachi just laughs and shakes his head. "I'm sorry for keeping everyone waiting." Indeed. All the Uchihas who had been assigned to go on the escort mission were waiting in the Uchiha District. "It's just the market was rather crowded today."

Fugaku shrugs at that. Maybe, Sasuke was overreacting though. It could just be that Itachi had been too polite to bulldoze people.

"It's alright." Mikoto smiles at Itachi. "We really should be going." The Uchiha matriarch shrugs gracefully as she glances at Shisui. "Though you weren't the only person who was late today."

To Sasuke's amusement, his cousin's cheeks turn a lovely shade of pink at that. Was Shisui really that embarrassed about being a bit late? Nah. Something was definitely going on and he was going to figure out what it was.

"Sorry about that." Shisui smiles sheepishly. "We should probably get going though. Everyone is here."

Well everyone that was going on the mission anyway. The younger children were at the Academy. Some were patrolling the Leaf Village and others were on their own missions.

It seemed like everyone was busy today. It was so weird, but Sasuke tries to tell himself that he's being ridiculous. Everyone was fine.

"You're right." Fugaku nods. "They specifically requested for Uchiha escorts. So let's make sure the complete this mission." His father clearly wasn't entirely pleased at their Clan being deployed in such a frivolous fashion, but the Uchiha patriarch wasn't going to argue with a direct order either. "Come on."

That was all that was said as the Uchihas being their grand procession out of the Leaf Village. It almost felt like a parade to Sasuke.

"I can sense several chakra signatures coming this way." Charger looks around on high alert and Daisuke hisses in agreement.

Naruto was far from a Sensory Type, but he could as well. So Danzo had decided to bring his guards with him. Well that was just fine. That wouldn't stop them.

Orochimaru nods at the felines. "You're right about that." His yellow eyes drift over Naruto's form. "I hope you realize that despite Danzo's age, he's still a formidable opponent. Charger and Daisuke do give us an advantage though."

Oh yes, Naruto realized that. He had been dreaming of this moment. The blonde wasn't a tactician by nature, but this bastard was threatening Sasuke and his family. He had to pay.

"I know." He nods as the signatures get closer.

There were a couple that were more distant though. Clearly, they weren't members of Danzo's entourage. One of them felt far too familiar.

"Itachi is coming." Daisuke meows.

Yes, Itachi was coming and he was coming with a friend. Damn it. How had Sasuke's brother found out about this? Naruto had been so careful about everything.

"We'll explain everything to him after Danzo is brought to heel." Naruto growls.

A few minutes later, Danzo arrives and Orochimaru watches with interest. He could feel the rage radiating from Naruto. It would be glorious to witness the chakra of the Nine Tails unleashed and perhaps, the Sannin would even to launch a few blows against the fossil.

"So it was a trap." Danzo stands in the middle of Forest of Death with the other ROOT Members surrounding him. "I suspected as much. You're foolish, Naruto." He smirks. "The village will believe my word over yours and I'll merely tell them you attacked me. That you lost control of the Nine Tails. No one will blame me for killing you."

The transformation was swift and stunning. Orochimaru watches in awe as Naruto's teeth become sharper. More like an animal's and a dangerous layer of reddish orange chakra surrounds him. The energy was so violent that some bark was actually peeling off the nearby trees.

"If anyone is going to die today, it's going to be you." Naruto's eyes were now just as red as any Sharingan and his pupils had become mere slits. "Charger, attack!"

It was quite the beautiful sight. Watching Charger live up to his name and come running at the elderly ninja and his protectors was lovely.

"AHHH-CHOO!" So was Danzo's reaction.

The man starts sneezing and his eyes were now watering badly. "D-Damn it!" Never had the phrase 'hacking up a lung' seemed so apt.

"Don't worry, Lord Danzo!" The ROOT Members step in front of him. "We'll protect you."

Some of them clearly wanted to lead Danzo to safety. Of course, Orochimaru couldn't allow that. This man had threatened the life of his future student and Sasuke's family. That was unforgivable.

"I know that you're merely brainwashed pawns." He smirks at them as he goes flying towards them. "So I'll make your death's quick." With his snake sword.

"Meow!" Daisuke wasn't far behind him either.

It was nice to see the little Ninja Cat scratching the faces of their opponents and breathing fire at them. These were skilled ninjas, but Orochimaru was quite certain the Ninja Cat could more than hold his own.

"You know, I don't know that much about medical stuff." Naruto runs towards Danzo. "But I'm sure that I can make sure you die screaming!"

The raw fury and the bloodlust was, well exquisite. Naruto really did have every intention of killing Danzo it seemed.

"Rasengan!" He didn't hesitate to slam his Rasengan through one of Danzo's protectors either.

It didn't take long for them to arrive at the Forest of Death. It took even less time for them to reach the battlefield.

"Clever. Using his allergy to cats like that." Itachi muses as his skilled eyes survey the situation.

Anyone could have done the math really. Danzo had brought his guards with him and was trying his best to remain standing as the battle waged around them.

"I s-should have had you k-killed on the day you were born!" The man was coughing and sneezing.

Itachi wasn't a medic, but he could tell that the man was struggling even to breath. A lion Summon of that size coming up against someone like Danzo was a dangerous combination.

"I'm strangely impressed by how vicious Naruto can be when provoked." Itachi chuckles.

The situation was almost amusing in a rather morbid and sick way. Still, this was a life or death battle.

"I know the feeling." Kabuto nods at Itachi. "I'll stay here while you join the fray. You are planning on joining are you not?"

Pft. Of course, he was. Danzo had threatened his family.

He was a pacifist by nature, but Itachi wasn't going to be led like a lamb to a slaughter. "Naturally." Which was clearly what Danzo had been intending. "I shall be back momentarily." With that being said, Itachi makes several Shadow Clones and charges forward.

He needed to cut down the numbers of Root Members. Unfortunately, he didn't really have time to be subtle. Clone explosions would have to do.

So that's exactly what he did. His clones race towards Danzo's pawns and explode. Whether they lived or died, well lit wasn't Itachi's primary concern at the moment. At the very least, they wouldn't be much trouble afterwards.

"Thanks, Itachi!" Naruto glances at him.

"Baku!" Danzo somehow manage to summon his giant tapir like Summon. "Get them. Deal with that lion!"

Charger was less than pleased to see another Summon on the field. It's tusks looked fearsome, but apparently it was using wind based attacks.

"Pft. I am the king of the jungle!" He looks around. "Well the forest in this case." As if some herbivore was going to stop him. "Surrender now or be prepared to face the consequences."

The tapir was truly a dumb beast in Charger's mind. It just ran straight at him trying to suck him up with its wind attack. An attack which was obviously designed to magnify his master's techniques, but would also be weak against his trademark technique.

Daisuke wasn't the only feline who could breathe fire. "TAKE THIS!" He lets out a menacing roar that has the entire forest and he breathes fire on Baku.

The creature ends up sucking some of the flames into its mouth and falls over. Though it gets up and rushes at him. Its bellows would have been terrifying, if Charger wasn't a lion.

"DIE!" He slashes at with his claws and delights in hearing Danzo's wheezes. He really was allergic to cats.

This was impossible. Itachi had just arrived on the scene and taken out the rest of his guards. It was now up to Danzo to flee. He couldn't fight with that damn cat taking up the entire place.

It was a struggle just to breathe, but he knew that had to fight. "Vacuum Blast Barrage!" This was a powerful wind technique capable of cutting through even a Susanoo.

The damn blonde manages to dodge though. His eyes were truly like a demons as he comes closer. "Rasengan!" It was all Danzo could do to erect a tree in time to take the blunt of the blow.

"Damn it." He would have been done for, had that landed.

Naruto looks far more like an animal than a man at the moment. "You're not going to escape that easily!" The tree had blocked the Rasengan, but it had used far too much energy.

Everything was going blurry and it was a struggle just to move. He needed to Flicker off. It might be the only thing that could save him at this point.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Hundreds of Narutos appeared out of nowhere.

Damn it. How could he dodge all these blonds when Danzo could barely see? His eyes were watering so badly and his throat was swelling rapidly. It was almost impossible to breath, let alone to fight.

"Kill the traitor." Charger's voice encourages Naruto.

His regeneration ability was probably the only reason why he was still moving. Thanks to Hashirama's cells, he could heal much faster than any normal person. Unfortunately, that might not be enough in this case.

Naruto smirks as his clones attack Danzo from all directions. "No. That's too good for him." Rasengans blaring. "On second thought, I have something better in mind for this creep."

Naruto's clones all rush at Danzo at once. True the man tried to dodge, but it wasn't affective. Even his regenerative abilities weren't keeping pace with his allergy to Charger and that was why he was able to slam his Fists into the ancient ninja's eyes.

"AHHHH!" There was something disturbingly satisfying about hearing Danzo cry out like that. "YOU MONSTER!" Feeling the blood rush forth from the wound.

Danzo wasn't dead though, but he was in a lot of pain. Naruto wasn't done yet. "Orochimaru, cut off his hands!" He wanted to do it himself, but there was a chance Danzo could bleed to death. "Just don't allow this bastard the mercy of dying."

Surprisingly enough, Orochimaru makes his way over to them quickly. He proceeds to do exactly that with his sword. "He's a fast healer." He smiles at Naruto as he rips off his sleeves and wraps them around the now bloody stumps of Danzo's hands, who was still screaming. "So bleeding to death probably wouldn't be an issue."

Itachi honestly didn't know what to make of the situation, but it was apparently over. Danzo's Root Members were all dead as far as he could tell and Danzo clearly wasn't going anywhere.

"I'd say to cuff him, but he no longer has any hands to cuff." Itachi sighs. "What the hell are you planning to do now, Naruto?"

The blond smiles at him. "Oh I'm going to put him on trial." That smile wasn't the smile that he had come to associate with Naruto though. "I'll make sure everyone knows what he's done and I'll make sure that this village never messes with your family again."

It wasn't kind. It was sadistic. Itachi had seen smiles like that on the battlefield. Usually, it was the look a ninja might get while trying to extract revenge or when they had lost their mind. This didn't bode well for the Leaf Village.

"It wasn't an accident that my family was sent away on missions during this battle." He had known that of course, but there was a difference between knowing something and really knowing something.

Naruto nods at him. "You're right." He smiles at him. "I didn't want there to be any chance that your family would be blamed for his death, but I decided not to kill him."

"M-MONSTER!" Danzo coughs at him.

Kabuto actually chuckles at that. "Well if you think this is unfortunate, you should see what Itachi made me see inside his Genjutsu." He glares at the Uchiha. "That was rather cruel. Don't you think?"

Perhaps, he had gone a bit overboard. Itachi didn't regret that part though and he still hadn't ruled out the possibility of sending a fireball at the other ninja's private regions.

"No." He shakes his head quickly. "Not really." Though he was more worried about Naruto than Kabuto. "What are you planning?"

The blond just smiles at him and looks at Orochimaru. "I think that I'll just take over the village. The Nine Tails certainly gives me a lot of firepower and once I reveal what kind of monsters have really been running this village, I imagine people will be happy to have a competent Hokage in charge for a change."

It was amazing how just a few words could make Itachi's run cold. He wasn't entirely sure what had happened to Naruto. Was this a spur of the moment change of heart or had these thoughts already been lingering in his mind for awhile?

Who could really say? Maybe, it didn't matter. What mattered was that he was not dealing with the same Naruto he had been before and that meant they could were all in danger, even Sasuke.